Gun stock checkering



Nov. 1, 1966 M. J. SOBRAN 3,282,201

GUN STOCK CHECKERING Original Filed June 12, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORA M/CHAEL J SOB/PAN ATTOPNEV M. J. SOBRAN Nov. 1, 1966 GUN STOCK CHECKERING 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Original Filed June 12, 1963 FIG- INVENTOR. M/CHAEL J. SOBRAN FIG-33 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,282,201 GUN STOCK CHECKERING Michael J. Sobran, Woodbridge, Conn, assignor to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, a corporation of Virginia Original application June 12, 1963, Ser. No. 287,274, now Patent No. 3,229,401. Divided and this application June 30, 1964, Ser. No. 385,540

1 Claim. (Cl. 1019) This application is a division of copending application Serial No. 287,274, filed June 12, 1963, now Patent No. 3,229,406.

This invention relates to firearms and more particularly to ornamentation and roughening of the hand grip portion of the gun stock by embossing or grooving, known as checkering, to provide a non-slipping surface.

The common practice heretofore in checkering the hand grip area of the wood stock has been cutting involving either semiautomatic machinery or manual tools in either event manipulated by highly skilled operators engaged in a tedious and expensive operation. This procedure especially with machinery is limited to gouging the wood in straight lines. More complex patterns may be done by hand carving at great expense.

In an effort to overcome the disadvantages'of this prior practice, resort has been made to forming either an embossed veneer of wood or an insert of molded plastic and then attaching this part to the gun as an inlay or overlay. This, however, requires careful fitting and gluing. This, also, has disadvantages of poor performance of certain thermoplastic and thermosetting materials evidenced by cracking, warping, and peeling of the overlay.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide improved machine-pressed checkering suited to economical mass production of any one or more of a variety of patterns, including impressing two or more types of patterns at the same time.

Another object is to form checkering by a means of new and improved die apparatus acting directly on a surface area of the gun stock to produce a wood surface characterized either by a plurality of spaced ridges or points or by a plurality of grooves or pits.

Another object is the direct pressing of intersectingridges or intersecting grooves of sufiicient relief to be sensed readily by fingers seeking a grip of enhanced friction retention but free from raspiness.

Another object is the surface treatment of natural lignocellulosic material particularly the hardwoods by heat and pressure to develop a wear-resistant surface embossing on black walnut, cherry, hard maple, and other hardwoods used for gun stocks and characterized by a high lignin content.

The above and other objects-as well as the features of this invention will be evident from a description taken in conjunction in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation showing one embodiment of apparatus arranged with a piece of wood to the checkered on three faces;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through the face of an embossing die according to a preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective partial view partly in cross section showing a portion of wood stock finished according to this invention.

According to the present invention a hand grip area of This treatment occurs after ad ustment has been made in the heat, pressure, and time 3,282,201 Patented Nov. 1, 1966 "ice conditions of the die, until by trial and error the proper combination of these conditions is found for production of the best impression of deep checkering on the gun stock. According to this invention checkering, which is not to be confused with shallow stippling producing surface matting, may occur on either an end grain surface or on a flat grain surface, the latter being more difficult to form satisfactorily by embossing. Nevertheless, according to this invention even flat grain surfaces may be acceptably checkered in a variety of ornamental patterns of fretwork in relief.

The present method is especially adaptable to the use of a cross checkering type of die. More specifically, the method is especially adapted to the use of a die particularly of the cameo type, which is characterized by the presence of a number of pointed teeth such as pyramidal teeth. Such a die, under the conditions of heat, pressure and time outlined hereafter, produces a regularly ordered deep stippling providing a negative type of checkering having separate sockets with which an improved grip occurs because of vacuum action. By negative checkering is meant regularly ordered stippling characterized by superficial preferably coplanar crests in the form of straight lines in spaced parallel arrangement intersecting a similar array of straight lines at a desired angle of checkering in the crossed hatched pattern of diamonds desired by shooters.

The crossed hatched pattern commonly available is of the positive checkering types either by closely spaced grooves and relatively sharp pyramidal points or by more widely spaced grooves and relatively fiat diamonds or squares, the latter being known as flat top or English checkering. This too may be made according to this invention by means of a die of the intaglio type characterized by a cross hatched pattern of linear crests forming widely spaced knife-like edges. Such a die will produce positive checkering in relief involving an ordered arrangement of pyramidal peaks instead of intersecting linear edges.

In any event by means of this invention checkering may be produced on the forestock, the pistol grip, and the 'buttstock of a gun by means of machine pressing or embossing in pattern reproducing apparatus of the type shown in FIGURE 1, where the best patterns produced in this way are of the negative type.

Whether the master die by either the intaglio or cameo type for producing either positive or negative checkering, respectively, the incisions or teeth 1 of the die 2, 3, and 4 are cut by means of a tool producing faces intersecting at a dihedral angle of about 30 to 50, preferably 40".. In contradistinction to the 90 angle of wood cutters heretofore used, this angle has been found particularly effective in penetrating the wood stock 5 without excessive splitting or excessive blunting of the finished pattern to 0.050 of an inch and more.

The die is brought to a working temperature in the range from about 520 F. to about 650 F. to facilitate embossing by pressing for a time without producing the excessive carbonization which accompanies a branding process. Preferably for rapid operation and the best setting of the ligno-cellulosic bond developed, the temperature is maintained in the range above 600 F., but below 650 F. to avoid burning. Satisfactory checkering has been produced in a walnut gun stock by pressing pyramid tooth shape producing negative checkering on the gun stock. Electric die heating is used; each die has a series of cavities and heaters 8 all snugly received for good conduction to the die faces and their teeth.

The invention involves surface treatment by a heated die directly and without need for an intervening impregnation with any extraneous binder such as a thermoplastic or thermosetting resinous material.

Treatment at elevated temperature occurs with one or more dies held in a pneumatic or hydraulic press capable of exerting an impression force of from about 3,000 pounds to about 12,000 pounds over an embossing area usually not less than about 5 square inches and not more than about 8 square inches.

It is to be understood that larger or smaller areas may be treated, provided the exerted die force is varied in correspondence with the pressure found satisfactory. The exact local pressure exerted on the wood in any particular pattern is determined by the configuration of the die protrusions used and will be very high initially at the sharply pointed spikes or edges. For this reason, it is impractical to specify particular values ofpressure. As the impression progresses, the wood pressure tapers off, although the die force may increase to a final finishing force in the range specified. Preferably, the mirror image of the die is impressed. Unit pressure is cut off when the desired impression is done.

The applied pressure varies in effectiveness somewhat with the temperature and time of application. At the lower end of the temperature range the pressure may be increased; at the hottest permissible temperature of application a somewhat lower pressure is satisfactory. The effective pressure, however, also varies with-the time of application, which in turn varies with the temperature. A somewhat lower pressure is effective at a long time of application, while an increased pressure is needed when the time of application is short. At a temperature of around 520 F. the checking cycle is about 25 seconds. At the hottest effective temperature, pressure is applied for not more than about 5 seconds.

It is preferred that the wood surface be stained and filled beforehand and contain the usual moisture and volatiles.

The dies 2, 3, and 4 and their protrusions 1 are made of hardened tool steel and in the areas of the protrusions the dies are preferably chromium plated. The surface contour of each die matches closely the shaped surface of the wood stock 5 in the area to be checkered.

The embossing apparatus comprises a supporting frame 9, a gun stock mount 10 carried on the frame 9, and suitable means, such as the fluid cylinder 11 and the fluid cylinder 12, for applying driving force to the dies.

One pair of opposed dies is shown, but it is to be understood .one or more added pairs may be used. For example, one pair may impress the forearm sides and another pair impress the grip.

With the stock mounted suitably, the butt may be checkered with still another single die and cylinder set, not shown. Thus, a long stock may be checkered in at least six different areas automatically, after proper mounting in the machine. A round stock may be impressed all around by a suitable series of curved dies, providing a better quality of checkering than attainable by roll embossing.

Driving force is obtained from cylinder 11 by means of any suitable arrangement such as the floating levers 14 and .15, connected at their ends to the cylinder by wrist pins 20 and 30, are mounted at pivot pins 16 and 17 on the supporting frame 9. These levers, extending through frame openings 18 and 19 have on their distal ends clamping blocks 21 and 22 with curved faces adapted to press on die anvils 23 and 24, respectively, slidably mounted on frame 9 by means of suitable guide pins such as 25 and 26 fixed on anvils 23 and 24, respectively. To permit the die faces to adjust themselves to the surface contour of the wood stock 5, each anvil is pivotally mounted at pins 27 and 28 to its respective die 3 and 4, respectively. It is notable that this arrangement of the opposed dies 3 and 4 allows equal and opposite patterns to be impressed simultaneously on the wood stock, thereby equalizing the stresses on the wood 4 and the depth of penetration in both the left hand and right hand patterns, in cooperation with mount 10 and stops.

In addition, die 2, shown for application of a single pattern, is mounted .to anvil 29 at pin 13 with limited pivotal movement in the same manner as are .the other anvils; in turn anvil 29 is slidably mounted by its guide pins 3-1 to frame 9 in proper alignment to be acted on by the thrustor of cylinder 12 which is also mounted on the frame by suitable fasteners 32. Bucking is provided by gunstock mount 10.

Electric regulators 6 control the heating current in cables 7 to the resistance elements 8 to bring the temperature of the dies to the effective value, read by the operator on temperature indicating instruments (not shown) actuated by suitable devices such as thermocouples (not shown) mounted in the dies in close proximity with the protrusions 1. Although the temperatures of dies 2, 3 and 4 are held to about the same general temperature found effective, the operator individually adjusts the temperature of each die more finely by a few degrees higher or lower to compensate for any environmental differences encountered.

Application of the pressure is governed by control devices 72 and 76. At the beginning of the cycle, fluid pressure from inlet line 73 is released by controller 72 to line 74 of cylinder 11, thereby driving the protrusions of dies 3 and 4 into contact with workpiece 5 to accomplish embossing. In close sequence thereafter controller 76 admits fluid pressure from inlet line 77 to line 78 of cylinder 12, which is actuated to thrust die 2 and its protrusions also into cont-act with the workpiece. After passage of the interval of time found proper, whereupon the depth of impression sought is accomplished, controllers 72 and 76 provide a valve action admitting fluid pressure to return lines 75 and 79 while exhausting lines 74 and 78.

The stop means, upon detection of maximum depth of impression having been reached, may advantageously be associated with controllers 72 and 76 to actuate them to reduce the unit pressure for holding only.

In lieu of cylinder 11, each of dies 3 and 4 may be provided with its own cylinder, interconnected at first by a suitable controller for simultaneous movement into contact with the workpiece and then for imultaneous and/ or separate withdrawal as either the timer and/or stop means dictate for accomplishing the right depth of impression and proper set of the autogenous bond in all the areas treated.

As shown in FIGURE 2, a typical die 2 has controlled heaters 8 in good heat conductive relationship with the V- shaped embossing protrusions or teeth 1 formed by a tool in the face at a sharp included tooth angle, preferably about 40. The sharpness of the tooth angle allows the impression to be made over a surface having a somewhat curved contour without limitation to a perfectly flat surface. At an angle of much less, such as one sharper than 30, it is difficult to maintain the die face.

At a much blunter angle, the impression in the wood is' limited to flatter surf-aces and tends to be unsatisfactory for one reason or another, such as for the excessively sunken condition of the whole pattern. For simplicity, no curvature is shown in FIGURE 2.

Atypical example of various checkering patterns developed on the wood stock 5 by the die is shown in FIGURE 3. A negative type of cross checkering is shown characterized by ridges free from raspy sharpness and interesting at some conventional angle such as 45 providing diamond pyramidal pits or troughs, in the hardened surface 40.

One pattern shown involves troughs 41 extending to a depth of about 0.085 of an inch between parallel crests 42 spaced about of an inch on the stock surface.

A similar but finer pattern of shallower diamond 5 troughs 51 may be made between more closely spaced crests 52, utilizing an angular indentation as before.

Still another but smoother pattern is shown having diamond pyramidal troughs 61 more widely spaced to provide a rather fiat topped crest area 62 similar to English checkering.

By the method of this invention it will be understood that articles other than gun stocks, such as handles of tools and other sporting devices, may be advantageously checkered with both utility and ornamentation. An improved hand grip free from raspiness is produced with economy and consistently good high quality. The pattern is not limited to straight lines, or to sharp points to compensate for wear as with cut checkering. The checkering produced may include sockets having a suction cup action and is free from raspiness. The pattern densified by heat and pressure has high resistance to wear.

What is claimed is:

A machine for embossing an ornamental permanently hardened surface contour over an area of an elongated hollow wooden work piece comprising a holder for mounting said work piece, said holder having an axis of elongation, a pair of jaw members mounted on opposite sides of said holder and adapted to be simultaneously reciprocated toward and away from said holder, each of said jaw members having pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the axis of said holder, said pair of jaw members having a common median plane of movement, a third jaw member mounted for reciprocal movement toward and away from said holder in a median plane perpendicular to said median plane of said pair of jaw members, said third jaw member having pivotal 6 movement about an axis perpendicular of said holder and perpendicular to the pivotal axis of said pair of jaw members, die means mounted on each of said jaw members, said die means having plurality of sharp angled diamond pyramidal teeth the base portions of said teeth forming a first series of parallel elongated recessed portions intersected by a second series of parallel elongated recessed portions, means for reciprocating said jaw members to develop a predetermined pressure between said die means and a work piece mounted on said holder for a predetermined interval of time, control means for regulating said predetermined pressure, heating means for heating said die means, control means for regulating the temperature of said heating means, and means for regulating said interval of time.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 664,859 1/1901 Herr et al 1019 693,362 2/1902 Bancroft 1019 841,672 1/1907 Oittmar l019 859,804 7/1907 Daniel 42-71 949,786 2/1910 Waibel 1019 1,079,313 11/1913 Colby et al. 1019 1,733,876 10/1929 Halvorsen 101-9 2,002,698 5/1935 Kruczek 10135 2,338,685 1/1944 Dee 4271 X 2,541,800 2/1951 \Nhitaker 101-4 2,960,024 11/1960 Kingsley 1019 WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner. 

